Method and Apparatus for Activating Applications Based on Rotation Input

Abstract

An electronic device for activating an application based on a rotation input is provided. The electronic device includes a memory configured to store at least one of angular range data and angular data for activating an application, and a processor configured to activate the application if a rotation angle according to a rotation input corresponds to at least one of the angular range data and the angular data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic device comprising:
 a memory configured to store at least one of angular range data and angular data for activating an application; and   a processor configured to activate the application if a rotation angle according to a rotation input corresponds to at least one of the angular range data and the angular data.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display configured to display a screen caused by the application when it is activated; and   a rotation input module surrounding an outer perimeter of the display, the rotation input module being rotatable with respect to a surficial center of the display,   wherein the rotation input is obtained as the rotation input module is rotated.   
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the display has a circular or elliptic shape. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the rotation input module is able to provide a discrete haptic feedback to a user according to rotation of the rotation input module, and   wherein a number of times the discrete haptic feedback is provided is set based on at least one of the angular range data and the angular data.   
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising an alarm module configured to generate a sound or vibration as an alarm if the rotation angle according to the rotation input corresponds to at least one of the angular range data and the angular data or the application is activated. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor generates an execution command caused by the application if a user input to the application is obtained when the application is activated. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a communication circuit configured to communicate with an external electronic device,   wherein the execution command is transmitted to the external electronic device via the communication circuit.   
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the angular range data comprises a plurality of angular range data that do not have overlapping angular ranges,   and the angular data comprises a plurality of angular data that do not have overlapping angular ranges, and   wherein at least one of: the plurality of angular range data and the plurality of angular data correspond to a plurality of applications.   
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of angular range data have equal angular ranges. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of angular range data has an angular range obtained by dividing a specified angle by a number of the plurality of applications. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of the angular data are set apart from each other at an interval obtained by dividing a specified angle by a value based on a number of the plurality of applications. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the specified angle is 360 degrees, and   wherein the value based on the number of the plurality of applications is obtained by adding 1 to the number of the plurality of applications.   
     
     
         13 . An electronic device comprising:
 a memory configured to store angular difference range data for activating an application; and   a processor configured to activate the application if an angular difference according to a rotation input corresponds to the angular difference range data.   
     
     
         14 . A method for activating an application based on a rotation input, the method comprising:
 obtaining the rotation input; and   activating the application if a rotation angle according to the rotation input corresponds to angular range data or angular data for activating the application.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the rotation input is obtained from a bezel member that is configured to be rotated. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 ,
 wherein discrete haptic feedback is provided to a user as the user rotates the bezel member, and   wherein a number of times the discrete haptic feedback is provided is determined by the angular range data or the angular data.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising generating a sound or vibration as an alarm if the rotation angle according to the rotation input corresponds to the angular range data or the angular data. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising generating a sound or vibration as an alarm if the application is activated. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 obtaining a user input to the application when it is activated; and   generating an execution command caused by the application according to the user input when the application is activated.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising transmitting the execution command to another electronic device.